Detection apparatus and damper structure

ABSTRACT

Included are: a main body including an installation part in which a cartridge housing a liquid for treating a test substance contained in a specimen is installed and a detector configured to detect the test substance treated with the liquid within the cartridge installed in the installation part; a lid part arranged rotatably on the main body about a shaft so as to open and close the installation part; a biasing part biasing the lid part in an opening direction; and a plurality of regulators each generating resistance against a biasing force in the opening direction at different timing during an opening motion of the lid part.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Application No.2020-012808, filed on Jan. 29, 2020, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a detection apparatus and a damperstructure.

2. Description of the Related Art

A detection apparatus that mixes a specimen and liquid as a reagent witheach other to detect a test substance contained in the specimen isknown. A container such as a chip or a cartridge housing the specimen isinserted from an opening provided in the detection apparatus, theopening is covered with a lid part, and then the test substancecontained in the specimen is detected.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2017-519485, for example, aportable analysis apparatus analyzing a sample containing a proteinanalyte such as blood is known.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of an exemplaryconventional analysis apparatus 1X. The analysis apparatus 1X has a mainbody 100X and a lid part 110X arranged in an openable and closablemanner with respect to the main body 100X. The lid part 110X of theanalysis apparatus 1X is provided with a spring 32X or the like biasingthe lid part 110X in an opening direction, and the lid part 110X opensthrough its biasing force. However, when the lid part 110X of theanalysis apparatus 1X opens, the analysis apparatus 1X may topplethrough momentum during the process, which may provide insufficientsafety.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to at least partially solvethe problems in the conventional technology.

To solve the above problem and achieve the object, a detection apparatusaccording to the present disclosure includes a main body comprising aninstallation part in which a cartridge housing a liquid for treating atest substance contained in a specimen is installed and a detectorconfigured to detect the test substance treated with the liquid withinthe cartridge installed in the installation part, a lid part arrangedrotatably on the main body about a shaft so as to open and close theinstallation part, a biasing part biasing the lid part in an openingdirection, and a plurality of regulators each generating resistanceagainst a biasing force in the opening direction at different timingduring an opening motion of the lid part.

A damper structure according to the present disclosure includes abiasing part biasing, in an opening direction, a lid part arrangedrotatably on a main body about a shaft in an openable and closablemanner; and a plurality of regulators each generating resistance againsta biasing force in the opening direction at different timing during anopening motion of the lid part.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical andindustrial significance of this disclosure will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of presently preferredembodiments of the disclosure, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a detection apparatusaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the detection apparatusaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the detection apparatusaccording to the embodiment illustrating a state in which a lid part isclosed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the detection apparatusaccording to the embodiment illustrating a state in which the lid partis open;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a base part and a damperstructure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the damper structure accordingto the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the damper structure accordingto the embodiment illustrating the damper structure and the lid part;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a first damper according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a movable range of the firstdamper according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating a movable range of a seconddamper according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a movable range of regulatorsaccording to the embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of an exemplaryconventional analysis apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following describes an embodiment of a detection apparatus 1according to the present disclosure in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The following embodiment does not limit thepresent disclosure.

In the following description, a front-and-rear direction defines adirection toward the front as “front” of the front-and-rear directionand a direction toward the rear as “rear” of the front-and-reardirection. The front-and-rear direction is defined as an X-axialdirection. A right-and-left direction is a direction horizontallyorthogonal to the front-and-rear direction. When viewed from the front,the left-hand side is “left,” whereas the right-hand side is “right.”The right-and-left direction is defined as a Y-axial direction. Anup-and-down direction is a direction orthogonal to the front-and-reardirection and the right-and-left direction. The up-and-down direction isdefined as a Z-axial direction. Consequently, the front-and-reardirection, the right-and-left direction, and the vertical direction arethree-dimensionally orthogonal to each other.

EMBODIMENT

Detection Apparatus

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the detection apparatus 1according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view ofthe detection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. The detectionapparatus 1 is an apparatus that successively transfers magneticparticles contained in a specimen to a plurality of chambers to causethe magnetic particles to carry a test substance and a labeled substanceand to detect the test substance based on the labeled substance. Thedetection apparatus 1 detects the test substance in the specimen usingan antigen-antibody reaction. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the detectionapparatus 1 includes a holding mechanism (an installation part) 2, adrive mechanism 3, a magnet 4, a moving mechanism 5, a controller 6, adetector 7, a pressing part 8, and an analyzer 9.

A cartridge 200 housing liquid for treating the test substance containedin the specimen is installed on the holding mechanism 2. The holdingmechanism 2 has a rotating table 11 and a rotating shaft 12. Thecartridge 200 is installed on the rotating table 11. The rotating shaft12 extends in the Z-axial direction. An upper end of the rotating shaft12 is fixed to the rotating table 11. The configuration of the holdingmechanism 2 is not limited to this example; another mechanism such as asliding mechanism may be used, for example.

The drive mechanism 3 rotates the rotating table 11. The drive mechanism3 has a motor 13, a drive shaft 14, and a coupling 15. The drive shaft14 extends in the Z-axial direction. The drive shaft 14 is connected toa lower end of the rotating shaft 12 of the holding mechanism 2 via thecoupling 15. The drive mechanism 3 drives the motor 13 to rotate thecartridge 200 mounted on the rotating table 11 about the rotating shaft12.

The magnet 4 successively transfers the magnetic particles contained inthe specimen to the chambers.

The moving mechanism 5 moves the magnet 4.

The controller 6 is an arithmetic processor including a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or a micro processing unit (MPU), for example. Thecontroller 6 has a storage unit including a flash memory or a hard disk,for example. The controller 6 receives signals from the parts of thedetection apparatus 1 and controls the parts of the detection apparatus1. The controller 6 controls the holding mechanism 2 and the movingmechanism 5. The controller 6 drives the moving mechanism 5 to move themagnet 4.

The detector 7 detects the test substance treated with the liquid withinthe cartridge 200 installed on the rotating table 11 of the holdingmechanism 2.

The pressing part 8 presses a sealant sealing the liquid housed in thecartridge 200 to open the sealant.

The analyzer 9 analyzes the test substance contained in the specimeninjected into the cartridge 200 based on light detected by the detector7. The detector 7 is described as one including a photomultiplier, whichis not limiting, and may include a photoelectric tube or a photodiode,for example. The analyzer 9 is an arithmetic processor including a CPUor an MPU, for example. The analyzer 9 has a storage unit including aflash memory or a hard disk, for example. The analyzer 9 may be placedas a computer connected to the detection apparatus 1 or placed as acomputer on a network such as a cloud, for example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the detection apparatus 1according to the embodiment illustrating a state in which a lid part 110is closed. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the detectionapparatus 1 according to the embodiment illustrating a state in whichthe lid part 110 is open. The detection apparatus 1 has a main body 100and the lid part 110. The main body 100 supports the lid part 110 in anopenable and closable manner. When the cartridge 200 is attached ordetached, the lid part 110 is opened as illustrated in FIG. 2. Placed inthe main body 100 are the holding mechanism 2, the drive mechanism 3,the magnet 4, the moving mechanism 5, the controller 6, the detector 7,and the analyzer 9. The cartridge 200 is installed on the holdingmechanism 2 placed in an upper part of the main body 100. A display unit40 is placed on a front part of the main body 100. The pressing part 8is placed in the lid part 110.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a base part 101 and a damperstructure 30 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explodedperspective view of the damper structure 30 according to the embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 4, a base part 101 on which the damper structure30 is mounted is placed on a rear part of the main body 100 opposite tothe front. The base part 101 is fixed to the main body 100. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the base part 101 includes a wall part 102, awall part 103 placed facing the wall part 102, a wall part 104connecting the wall part 102 and the wall part 103 with each other, anda wall part 105 connecting the wall part 102 and the wall part 103 witheach other and placed facing the wall part 104. As illustrated in FIG.6, the space surrounded by the wall part 102, the wall part 103, thewall part 104, and the wall part 105 is a housing part 106. The housingpart 106 houses a shaft 31 and a biasing part 32. An upper part of thehousing part 106 opens.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wall part 104 is formed with a hole part107, a hole part 108, and a hole part 109. A first protruding part 354of a first damper (a first regulator) 35 of the damper structure 30 isengaged with the hole part 107. A first protruding part 355 of the firstdamper 35 is engaged with the hole part 108. A protruding part 371 of acoupling part 37 of the damper structure 30 is engaged with the holepart 109.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the lid part 110 is arrangedrotatably on the main body 100 about the shaft 31 of the damperstructure 30. The lid part 110 rotates about the shaft 31 of the damperstructure 30 and is arranged so as to enable the holding mechanism 2(refer to FIG. 1) to open and close. When the lid part 110 is openedwith respect to the main body 100, the holding mechanism 2 is exposed. Asupport part 111 facing part of the damper structure 30 is placed on arear part of the lid part 110 opposite to the front.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the damper structure 30according to the embodiment illustrating the damper structure 30 and thelid part 110. The support part 111 is placed side by side with thehousing part 106 (refer to FIG. 6) in the Y-axial direction. The supportpart 111 is placed facing a regulator 34 of the damper structure 30. Thesupport part 111 is placed rotatably about the shaft 31 of the damperstructure 30. The support part 111 has a function of regulating a timeat which the regulator 34 of the damper structure 30 generatesresistance during an opening operation of the lid part 110. The supportpart 111 includes a first recessed part 112 in which a second protrudingpart 356 of the first damper 35 is placed and a second recessed part 113in which a second protruding part 366 of a second damper (a secondregulator) 36 is placed.

The first recessed part 112 is placed at a position closer to the wallpart 104 than the second recessed part 113 is. The first recessed part112 is an arc-shaped recessed part formed in the support part 111. Thefirst recessed part 112 defines a movable range of the second protrudingpart 356 of the first damper 35.

The second recessed part 113 is placed at a position farther from thewall part 104 than the first recessed part 112 is. The second recessedpart 113 is an arc-shaped recessed part formed in the support part 111.The second recessed part 113 defines a movable range of the secondprotruding part 366 of the second damper 36.

A circumferential length L1 on a radial inside of the first recessedpart 112 (refer to FIG. 9) is longer than a circumferential length L2 ona radial inside of the second recessed part 113 (refer to FIG. 10). Inother words, the movable range of the second protruding part 356 of thefirst damper 35 in the first recessed part 112 is wider than the movablerange of the second protruding part 366 of the second damper 36 in thesecond recessed part 113.

Damper Structure

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the first damper 35 accordingto the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a movablerange of the first damper 35 according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is aschematic view illustrating a movable range of the second damper 36according to the embodiment. The detection apparatus 1 illustrated inFIG. 1 to FIG. 4 has the damper structure 30 regulating an opening speedof the lid part 110. In the present embodiment, the damper structure 30reduces the opening speed of the lid part 110. The damper structure 30has the shaft 31 extending in the Y-axial direction, the biasing part32, a main body biasing part 33, a plurality of regulators 34, and thecoupling part 37.

The biasing part 32 illustrated in FIG. 5 is placed on the shaft 31 tobiase the lid part 110 in an opening direction. The biasing part 32 isplaced in the housing part 106 of the base part 101. The biasing part 32is a torsion spring, for example. Owing to the biasing part 32, the lidpart 110 is smoothly opened.

The main body biasing part 33 illustrated in FIG. 5 is placed on theshaft 31 to biase the main body 100 (refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4) in ashaft direction. The main body biasing part 33 is placed on another sideof the biasing part 32 in the shaft direction. The main body biasingpart 33 is placed in the housing part 106 of the base part 101 (refer toFIG. 3 and FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the main body biasingpart 33 biases the main body 100 in a −Y direction via the base part101. The main body biasing part 33 is a compression spring, for example.The main body biasing part 33 positions the shaft 31 with respect to thebase part 101 to reduce wobbling.

The regulators 34 illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are placed on theshaft 31. The regulators 34 are placed between the base part 101 of themain body 100 and the shaft 31. The regulators 34 are placed on one sideof the biasing part 32 in the shaft direction. The regulators 34regulate a time at which resistance against a biasing force in theopening direction by the biasing part 32 starts to be generated duringthe opening operation of the lid part 110. In the present embodiment,the regulators 34 are placed so as to be different from each other inthe time at which resistance against the biasing force in the openingdirection by the biasing part 32 starts to be generated during theopening operation of the lid part 110. The regulators 34 reduce theopening speed of the lid part 110 at the time at which resistance startsto be generated. The regulators 34 are placed so as to simultaneouslygenerate resistance in a partial period during the opening operation ofthe lid part 110. The regulators 34 include rotary dampers. In thepresent embodiment, the regulators 34 include the first damper 35 andthe second damper 36 coupled in the shaft direction of the first damper35.

The first damper 35 illustrated in FIG. 8 is placed between the basepart 101 (refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) of the main body 100 (refer toFIG. 2 to FIG. 4) and the shaft 31 (refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). Thefirst damper 35 starts to generate resistance later than the seconddamper 36 (refer to FIG. 5) during the opening operation of the lid part110 (refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4). The first damper 35 is placed closer tothe biasing part 32 (refer to FIG. 5) than the second damper 36 is inthe shaft direction. The first damper 35 has a hole part 350 throughwhich the shaft 31 is inserted, a base part 351 fixed to the main body100, and a rotating part 352 rotating about the shaft 31 with respect tothe base part 351. The base part 351 and the rotating part 352 areplaced with the shaft 31 as their center. The rotating part 352 isplaced covering a peripheral face of the base part 351. The first damper35 has the first protruding part 354 and the first protruding part 355protruding in the shaft direction from an end face on one side of thebase part 351 in the shaft direction. The first damper 35 has the secondprotruding part 356 protruding radially outward from a peripheral faceof the rotating part 352.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first protruding part 354 is engaged withthe hole part 107 of the wall part 104 of the base part 101, whereas thefirst protruding part 355 is engaged with the hole part 108 of the wallpart 104. Thus, the base part 351 is fixed to the main body 100 (referto FIG. 2 to FIG. 4) via the base part 101. The base part 351 does notrotate about the shaft 31 during the opening operation of the lid part110 (refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4).

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second protruding part 356 is positionedat the first recessed part 112 of the support part 111 (refer to FIG.7). Through an opening and closing operation of the lid part 110 (referto FIG. 2 to FIG. 4), the relative positional relation of the secondprotruding part 356 to the first recessed part 112 changes. In a statein which the second protruding part 356 is positioned at an intermediatepart of the first recessed part 112 (hereinafter, referred to as an“intermediate state of the second protruding part 356”), the lid part110 rotates along a circumferential direction of the first damper 35. Inthe intermediate state of the second protruding part 356, the firstdamper 35 does not operate, and the lid part 110 does not receiveresistance of the first damper 35. In the intermediate state of thesecond protruding part 356, the first damper 35 idles. The first damper35, during the opening operation of the lid part 110, does not reducethe opening speed of the lid part 110 in the intermediate state of thesecond protruding part 356.

In a state in which the second protruding part 356 is in contact with acircumferential end part 112 a of the first recessed part 112(hereinafter, referred to as a “contact state of the second protrudingpart 356”), the second protruding part 356 is caught by the end part 112a, thus generating resistance against the rotation of the lid part 110along the circumferential direction of the first damper 35. In thecontact state of the second protruding part 356, the rotating part 352rotates about the shaft 31 with respect to the base part 351 in stepwith the rotation of the lid part 110 in the opening direction. Thefirst damper 35, during the opening operation of the lid part 110,reduces the opening speed of the lid part 110 in the contact state ofthe second protruding part 356.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second damper 36 is placed between thebase part 101 (refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) of the main body 100 (referto FIG. 2 to FIG. 4) and the shaft 31. The second damper 36 starts togenerate resistance prior to the first damper 35 during the openingoperation of the lid part 110 (refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4). The seconddamper 36 is configured like the first damper 35 illustrated in FIG. 8.The second damper 36 is placed farther from the biasing part 32 than thefirst damper 35 is in the shaft direction. The second damper 36 has ahole part through which the shaft 31 is inserted, a base part 361 fixedto the coupling part 37, and a rotating part 362 rotating about theshaft 31 with respect to the base part 361. The base part 361 and therotating part 362 are placed with the shaft 31 as their center. Therotating part 362 is placed covering a peripheral face of the base part361. The second damper 36 has a first protruding part 364 and a firstprotruding part 365 protruding in the shaft direction from an end faceon one side of the base part 361 in the shaft direction. The seconddamper 36 has the second protruding part 366 protruding radially outwardfrom a peripheral face of the rotating part 362.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first protruding part 364 is engaged witha hole part 372 of the coupling part 37, whereas the first protrudingpart 365 is engaged with a hole part 373 of the coupling part 37. Thus,the base part 361 is fixed to the main body 100 (refer to FIG. 2 to FIG.4) via the coupling part 37 and the base part 101. The base part 361does not rotate about the shaft 31 during the opening operation of thelid part 110 (refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4).

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second protruding part 366 is positionedat the second recessed part 113 of the support part 111 (refer to FIG.7). Through the opening and closing operation of the lid part 110 (referto FIG. 2 to FIG. 4), the relative positional relation of the secondprotruding part 366 to the second recessed part 113 changes. In a statein which the second protruding part 366 is positioned at an intermediatepart of the second recessed part 113 (hereinafter, referred to as an“intermediate state of the second protruding part 366”), the lid part110 rotates along a circumferential direction of the second damper 36.In the intermediate state of the second protruding part 366, the seconddamper 36 does not operate, and the lid part 110 does not receiveresistance of the second damper 36. In the intermediate state of thesecond protruding part 366, the second damper 36 idles. The seconddamper 36, during the opening operation of the lid part 110, does notreduce the opening speed of the lid part 110 in the intermediate stateof the second protruding part 366.

In a state in which the second protruding part 366 is in contact with acircumferential end part 113 a of the second recessed part 113(hereinafter, referred to as a “contact state of the second protrudingpart 366”), the second protruding part 366 is caught by thecircumferential end part 113 a, thus generating resistance against therotation of the lid part 110 along the circumferential direction of thesecond damper 36. In the contact state of the second protruding part366, the rotating part 362 rotates about the shaft 31 with respect tothe base part 361 in step with the rotation of the lid part 110 in theopening direction. The second damper 36, during the opening operation ofthe lid part 110, reduces the opening speed of the lid part 110 in thecontact state of the second protruding part 366.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the coupling part 37 couples the first damper35 and the second damper 36 with each other in the shaft direction. Thecoupling part 37 is placed covering a peripheral face of the firstdamper 35. The coupling part 37 is fixed to the main body 100 (refer toFIG. 2 to FIG. 4) via the base part 101. The coupling part 37 has aprotruding part 371 protruding in the shaft direction from an end parton one side in the shaft direction. The coupling part 37 has a hole part372 and a hole part 373 on an end face on another side in the shaftdirection. The coupling part 37 has a notched part 374 partially notchedon its peripheral face. Part of the peripheral face of the first damper35 housed within the coupling part 37 is exposed out of the notched part374. The circumferential length of the notched part 374 is defined by anoperating range (a movable range) of the first damper 35 housedtherewithin during an opening and closing operation of the lid part 110(refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4). The notched part 374 is formedcorresponding to a section in which the rotating part 352 (refer to FIG.9) of the first damper 35 rotates about the shaft 31 during the openingand closing operation of the lid part 110.

Opening and Closing Operation and Action of Detection Apparatus

The following describes an opening and closing operation and action ofthe thus configured lid part 110 of the detection apparatus 1. FIG. 11is a diagram illustrating a movable range of the regulators 34 accordingto the embodiment. The following description will be given on theassumption that the lid part 110 opens up to 60° with respect to themain body 100 with a state in which the lid part 110 is closed as 0°.

The section in which the opening of the lid part 110 is from 0° to 20°is referred to as a first section. The second protruding part 356 of thefirst damper 35 is positioned at the intermediate part of the firstrecessed part 112 of the support part 111. In the first section, thefirst damper 35 does not operate, and the lid part 110 does not receiveresistance of the first damper 35. The second protruding part 366 of thesecond damper 36 is positioned at the intermediate part of the secondrecessed part 113 of the support part 111. In the first section, thesecond damper 36 does not operate, and the lid part 110 does not receiveresistance of the second damper 36. Thus, in the first section, the lidpart 110 rotates along the circumferential direction of the regulators34 without receiving resistance. In the first section, the first damper35 and the second damper 36 idle. In the first section, the openingspeed of the lid part 110 is not reduced.

The section in which the opening of the lid part 110 is from 20° to 40°is referred to as a second section. Like in the first section, thesecond protruding part 356 of the first damper 35 is positioned at theintermediate part of the first recessed part 112 of the support part111. The second protruding part 366 of the second damper 36 is incontact with the circumferential end part 113 a of the second recessedpart 113 of the support part 111. The second protruding part 366 is incontact with the circumferential end part 113 a, and thus the rotatingpart 362 of the second damper 36 rotates about the shaft 31 with respectto the base part 361 in step with the rotation of the lid part 110 inthe opening direction. In the second section, the first damper 35 idles,whereas the second damper 36 operates to generate resistance. The lidpart 110, receiving resistance of the second damper 36, rotates alongthe circumferential direction of the regulators 34. In the secondsection, the opening speed of the lid part 110 is reduced.

The section in which the opening of the lid part 110 is from 40° to 60°is referred to as a third section. The second protruding part 356 of thefirst damper 35 is in contact with the circumferential end part 112 a ofthe first recessed part 112 of the support part 111. The secondprotruding part 356 is in contact with the end part 112 a, and thus therotating part 352 of the first damper 35 rotates about the shaft 31 withrespect to the base part 351 in step with the rotation of the lid part110 in the opening direction. Like in the second section, the secondprotruding part 366 of the second damper 36 is in contact with thecircumferential end part 113 a of the second recessed part 113 of thesupport part 111. In the second section, the first damper 35 and thesecond damper 36 operate, and thus resistance of the first damper 35 andresistance of the second damper 36 are gathered to generate resistancestronger than that in the second section. The lid part 110, receivingthe resistance of the first damper 35 and the resistance of the seconddamper 36, rotates along the circumferential direction of the regulators34. In the third section, the opening speed of the lid part 110 isreduced compared with that in the second section.

Thus, the main body 100 and the lid part 110 of the detection apparatus1 are coupled with each other with the damper structure 30, whereby theopening speed of the lid part 110 during the opening operation isregulated. The damper structure 30 includes the first damper 35 and thesecond damper 36 as a plurality of regulators 34. The first damper 35and the second damper 36 are coupled with each other in the shaftdirection with the coupling part 37 placed covering the peripheral faceof the first damper 35.

Effect

As described above, the present embodiment couples the main body 100 andthe lid part 110 of the detection apparatus 1 with each other with thedamper structure 30 and can thereby regulate the opening speed of thelid part 110 during the opening operation.

In the present embodiment, the damper structure 30 includes the firstdamper 35 and the second damper 36 as a plurality of regulators 34. Inthe present embodiment, the coupling part 37 placed covering theperipheral face of the first damper 35 can couple the first damper 35and the second damper 36 with each other in the shaft direction. In thepresent embodiment, the first damper 35 and the second damper 36 eachgenerate resistance against the biasing force in the opening directionat different timing during the opening motion of the lid part 110. Inthe present embodiment, the first damper 35 and the second damper 36 areplaced so as to simultaneously generate resistance in a partial periodduring the opening operation of the lid part 110. Thus, the presentembodiment combines a plurality of small-sized rotary dampers with eachother and can thereby appropriately regulate the opening speed of thelid part 110 during the opening operation.

Thus, the present embodiment can, while appropriately regulating theopening speed of the lid part 110 with respect to the main body 100 ofthe detection apparatus 1, miniaturize the detection apparatus 1.

In the present embodiment, the circumferential lengths of the firstrecessed part 112 and the second recessed part 113 of the support part111 are made different from each other, whereby the time at whichresistance against the biasing force in the opening direction starts tobe generated and the time at which resistance is simultaneouslygenerated can be regulated to desired times.

In the present embodiment, the time at which resistance against thebiasing force in the opening direction starts to be generated and themagnitude of resistance can be achieved by combining a plurality ofgeneral-purpose, small-sized rotary dampers with each other.

In the present embodiment, the regulators 34 are placed on the one sideof the biasing part 32 in the shaft direction. In the presentembodiment, the main body biasing part 33 placed on the other side ofthe biasing part 32 in the shaft direction positions the shaft 31 withrespect to the base part 101. Thus, the present embodiment can reducewobbling in the damper structure 30.

Modifications

The detection apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure has beendescribed; the present disclosure may be performed in various differentmodes other than the embodiment described above.

The above describes a case in which the first damper 35 and the seconddamper 36 are included as exemplary regulators 34; this is not limiting.The regulators 34 may include three or more dampers. When three or moredampers are included, the coupling part 37 is placed covering peripheralfaces of dampers other than a damper placed at a position farthest fromthe wall part 104 in the shaft direction. Thus, the dampers adjacent toeach other in the shaft direction are coupled with each other. Thus, theopening speed of the lid part 110 during the opening operation can beregulated more appropriately.

In the above description, the circumferential length L1 of the firstrecessed part 112 is longer than the circumferential length L2 of thesecond recessed part 113; this is not limiting. The circumferentiallength L1 of the first recessed part 112 may be made shorter than thecircumferential length L2 of the second recessed part 113. When thecircumferential length L1 of the first recessed part 112 is made longer,the section in which the first damper 35 idles becomes longer, and thesection in which the first damper 35 rotates about the shaft 31 becomesshorter. When the section in which the first damper 35 rotates becomesshorter, the circumferential length of the notched part 374 may beshorter. On the other hand, when the circumferential length L1 of thefirst recessed part 112 is made shorter, the section in which the firstdamper 35 idles becomes shorter, and the section in which the firstdamper 35 rotates about the shaft 31 becomes longer. When the section inwhich the first damper 35 rotates becomes longer, the circumferentiallength of the notched part 374 must be made longer. To reduce the sizeof the notched part 374 formed in the coupling part 37 to increase therigidity of the coupling part 37, the section in which the first damper35 rotates about the shaft 31 is preferably shorter as described in theembodiment.

The present disclosure produces an effect of making it possible to,while appropriately regulating an opening speed of a lid part withrespect to a main body of a detection apparatus, miniaturize thedetection apparatus.

Although the disclosure has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A detection apparatus comprising: a main bodycomprising an installation part in which a cartridge housing a liquidfor treating a test substance contained in a specimen is installed and adetector configured to detect the test substance treated with the liquidwithin the cartridge installed in the installation part; a lid partarranged rotatably on the main body about a shaft so as to open andclose the installation part; a biasing part biasing the lid part in anopening direction; and a plurality of regulators each generatingresistance against a biasing force in the opening direction at differenttiming during an opening motion of the lid part.
 2. The detectionapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regulators reduce an openingspeed of the lid part at a time at which the resistance starts to begenerated.
 3. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecartridge has a sealant sealing the liquid, and the detection apparatusfurther comprises a pressing part placed in the lid part and pressingthe sealant of the cartridge to open the sealant.
 4. The detectionapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing part is placed onthe shaft, and the regulators are placed on the shaft.
 5. The detectionapparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a main body biasingpart placed on the shaft and biasing the main body in a shaft direction,wherein the regulators are placed on one side of the biasing part in theshaft direction, and the main body biasing part is placed on anotherside of the biasing part in the shaft direction.
 6. The detectionapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regulators are placed so asto simultaneously generate the resistance in a partial period during theopening operation of the lid part.
 7. The detection apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the regulators comprise a first regulator and asecond regulator coupled in a shaft direction of the first regulator,the detection apparatus further comprises a coupling part placedcovering a peripheral face of the first regulator and coupling the firstregulator and the second regulator with each other in the shaftdirection, the first regulator has a base part fixed to the main bodyand a rotating part rotating about the shaft with respect to the basepart, the second regulator has a base part fixed to the coupling partand a rotating part rotating about the shaft with respect to the basepart, and the coupling part is fixed to the main body.
 8. The detectionapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first regulator has aprotruding part protruding radially outward from a peripheral face ofthe rotating part, the second regulator has a protruding part protrudingradially outward from a peripheral face of the rotating part, the lidpart has a first recessed part with which the protruding part of thefirst regulator is engaged and a second recessed part with which theprotruding part of the second regulator is engaged, the first regulator,during an opening operation of the lid part, does not reduce an openingspeed of the lid part in a state in which the protruding part ispositioned at a circumferentially intermediate part of the firstrecessed part and reduces the opening speed of the lid part in a statein which the protruding part is in contact with a circumferential endpart of the first recessed part, and the second regulator, during theopening operation of the lid part, does not reduce the opening speed ofthe lid part in a state in which the protruding part is positioned at acircumferentially intermediate part of the second recessed part andreduces the opening speed of the lid part in a state in which theprotruding part is in contact with a circumferential end part of thesecond recessed part.
 9. The detection apparatus according to claim 8,wherein a movable range of the protruding part of the first regulator inthe first recessed part is wider than a movable range of the protrudingpart of the second regulator in the second recessed part.
 10. Thedetection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first regulator isplaced closer to the biasing part than the second regulator is in theshaft direction.
 11. The detection apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the regulators include rotary dampers.
 12. A damper structurecomprising: a biasing part biasing, in an opening direction, a lid partarranged rotatably on a main body about a shaft in an openable andclosable manner; and a plurality of regulators each generatingresistance against a biasing force in the opening direction at differenttiming during an opening motion of the lid part, the regulatorscomprising a first regulator and a second regulator coupled in a shaftdirection of the first regulator, the damper structure furthercomprising a coupling part placed covering a peripheral face of thefirst regulator and coupling the first regulator and the secondregulator with each other in the shaft direction, the first regulatorhaving a base part fixed to the main body and a rotating part rotatingabout the shaft with respect to the base part, the second regulatorhaving a base part fixed to the coupling part and a rotating partrotating about the shaft with respect to the base part, and the couplingpart being fixed to the main body.
 13. A detection method by a detectionapparatus, comprising: treating a test substance contained in a specimenwith a liquid; detecting the test substance treated with the liquid;opening a lid part of the detection apparatus; biasing the lid part inan opening direction; and generating resistance against a biasing forcein the opening direction at different timing during an opening motion ofthe lid part.
 14. The detection method according to claim 13, furthercomprising: reducing an opening speed of the lid part at a time at whichthe resistance starts to be generated.
 15. The detection methodaccording to claim 13, further comprising: pressing a sealant of acartridge to open the sealant.
 16. The detection method according toclaim 13, further comprising: biasing a main body in a shaft direction.17. The detection method according to claim 13, further comprising:simultaneously generating the resistance in a partial period during anopening operation of the lid part.
 18. The detection method according toclaim 13, further comprising: coupling a first regulator and a secondregulator in a shaft direction of the first regulator.
 19. The detectionmethod according to claim 18, further comprising: engaging a protrudingpart of the first regulator with a first recessed part of the lid partand engaging a protruding part of the second regulator with a secondrecessed part of the lid part; during an opening operation of the lidpart, not reducing an opening speed of the lid part in a state in whichthe protruding part is positioned at a circumferentially intermediatepart of the first recessed part and reducing the opening speed of thelid part in a state in which the protruding part is in contact with acircumferential end part of the first recessed part; and during theopening operation of the lid part, not reducing the opening speed of thelid part in a state in which the protruding part is positioned at acircumferentially intermediate part of the second recessed part andreducing the opening speed of the lid part in a state in which theprotruding part is in contact with a circumferential end part of thesecond recessed part.